Key-cover for pianos and other musical instrument.



H. 1. LA JOIE. KEY COVER FOR PIANOS AND OTHER MUSlCAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. I916. 1,242,952. Patented 0011111917.

"and other musical instruments,

UNITED sTA r Es PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT L LA JOIE, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOPIANO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

I KEY-COYER FOR- PIANOS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. LA Join, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Key-Cover for Pianos and other Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

- .The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved key cover for pianos and connecting mechanism by which the key cover can be moved with great facility without cramping from position to cover the keys, to position to uncover the keys and viceversa, and so that when the, key cover is in either position, and particularly when in rearward position, the parts. will be held from rattling.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1' is a sectional elevation showing the key ooverinclosed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the key cover in open position, and

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the construction of the pivoted links.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates thecasing of the instrument having the usual ledge B. C designates the keys of the instrument. D designates the key cover having its front portion E hinged to fold back on the rear portion. F designates a rail or block on which the key cover can slide, the rail being preferably covered with felt. The rear end of the key cover D is supported during its movements by arms G-Gr extending from a shaft G. The

arms and shaft are preferably formed from the same piece of wire and the ends of the arms are bent and pivoted in blocks I-I secured to the key bed or casing, as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft G is journaled in blocks II secured to the bottom of the sliding key cover, whereby the arms are fixedly pivoted to the rear end of the key cover. Said blocks also form stops engaging the rail F and limiting the forward mo-. tion of the key cover. The engaging front ends of the blocks may be covered with felt, if desired. One or more stops J are secured to the casing for limiting the rearward movement of the moving key cover.

The operation is as follows: The key cover is shown in closed position in Fig. 1. In this position the weight of the key cover Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application filed May 22, 1916. Serial No. 99,101.

pressing down on the arms GG forces the key cover forward so that the blocks II will engage the rail F. This will firmly and nicely hold the parts in closed position. IVhen it is desired to open the key cover, the front end E is turned back on the rear portion D and the key cover is moved toward the rear of the instrument. This will cause the arms to move through their vertical position, or through their dead centers, during which movement said arms will support the rear end of the key cover. This will bring the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the key cover D will engage the stops J so that the backward motion thereof will be limited. In this position the weight of the keycover pressing down on the pivoted links tends to move the key cover to the rear, or to firmer engagement with the stops J. This holds the parts firmly in their rear position, which is extremely desirable, as it will prevent rattles and jingles during the 'playing of the instrument. y

It will be noticed that the pivoted arms GGr are constrained to move together as they are connected by the shaft G. Hence the key cover cannot cramp asit is moved from one position to the other. This is important as the key cover may be taken hold of anywhere along its length, and no matter where it is pushed backward or pulled forward, it will assume parallel positions throughout its movement.

The details and arrangements may be greatly modified by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to obtain Letters-Patent on 1s 1. In a piano or other musical instrument, the combination of a casing, a movable key cover, and arms rigidly connected together and fixedly pivoted to the casing at their lower ends and to the rear end of the moving key cover at their upper ends arranged so that they will move through their vertical position as the key cover is moved from forward to rearward position or vice versa, and so that they will support the rear end of the key cover during said movements.

2. In a piano or other musical instrument, the combination of a casing having stops, a

movable key cover, and arms fixedly pivoted to the casing at their lower ends and to the key cover at their upper ends for supporting the rear end of the key cover during its. movements, arranged so that they will move through and to the rear of their vertical position when the key cover is moved backward, whereby when the key cover is in rearward said stops.

3; In a piano or other musical instrument, the combination of a casing, a movable key cover, arms fixedly pivoted thereto at their upper ends and to the casing at their lower ends for supporting the rear end of the key cover during its movements, a rail in the casing on which the key cover moves, and stops on the key cover for engaging the rail to limit its forward movement.

.4. In a piano or other musical instrument, the combination of a casing havingstops, a movable key cover, arms fixedly pivoted thereto at their upper ends and to the casing at their lower ends for supporting the rear end of the keycover during its movements, a rail on which the key cover moves, stops carried by the key cover for engaging the rail, the parts being arranged so that the weight of the key cover will force the same position it will engage forward to cause the stops to engage the rail when in forward position, and will force the key cover rearward to cause the same to-engage the stops on the casing when in rearward position.

5. In a piano or other musical instrument,

the combination of a casing having stops,

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the a movable key cover having its front portion hinged to fold back on the rear portion, arms fixedly pivoted thereto at their upper ends and to the casing at their lower ends for supporting the rear end of the key cover during its movements and arranged to move through their vertical position as the key cover is moved from forward to rear position and vice versa, a rail on which the key cover moves, and stops carried on the key cover for limiting the forward motion thereof, the rearward motion of the key cover being limited by the engagement of the key cover with the stops onthe casing.

6. In a piano or other musical instrument, the combination of a casing, a movable ke cover, and upright arms fixedly pivot thereto at their upper ends and to the easing at their lower ends for supporting the rear end thereof, said arms being bent and formed from'the same piece of wire which connects the upper ends of Said arms.-

7. In a piano or other musical instrument, the combination of a casing, a movable key cover, and arms fixedly pivoted thereto at their upper ends and to the casing at their lower ends for supporting the key cover during its movements, said arms being rigiidly connected at their upper ends by a shaft carried by the key cover.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HERBERT J. LA JOIE. In presence of WILLIAM W. PUSEY.

"Commissioner of 2mm,

Washington, D. 0.

integrally 

